We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
642 of its 891 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 67%. Baghdad accounted for 493 of Iraq's 642 stories about harm, carried by 324 outlets. 455 of Baghdad's 493 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (283 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Warmth in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
186 of its 275 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (159 stories). Earthquake was named in 160 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
205 of its 219 stories (94%) were about people being harmed, usually 63%. Dinka accounted for 172 of South Sudan's 205 stories about harm, carried by 186 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (140 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
22 of its 23 stories (96%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (20 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
820 of its 1,296 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Farewell Spit accounted for 691 of New Zealand's 820 stories about harm, carried by 543 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at more than ten times the usual rate (700 stories). Accidents were named in 22 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
438 of its 733 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. 262 of Espirito Santo's 272 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of abductions ran at about 7 times the usual rate (19 stories). Warmth in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
154 of its 318 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. 12 of Panama City's 18 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (133 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
1,769 of its 3,310 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (1,261 stories). Earthquake was named in 1,294 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with volcanic eruption and tsunami. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
160 of its 231 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Tripoli accounted for 117 of Libya's 160 stories about harm, carried by 109 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about 6 times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.
158 of its 228 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 12%. Minsk accounted for 156 of Belarus' 158 stories about harm, carried by 197 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: earthquake in Philippines (1294 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); landslides in Indonesia (153 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); plague in Bolivia (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); plague in Israel (86 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hiv in Gabon (11 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 11 Feb. The big dot is this day; the shaded band is a normal day (the 30 days before it). Click a day to open it. Based on 37,738 stories about harm among 161,667 counted on 11 Feb.
Help and hope: reports of volunteers ran at about twice the usual rate. In the Philippines' news, mentions of the earthquake ran more than ten times their usual. On 12 February 2016, a year earlier, the share was 20 in every 100, against 23 today. 23 in every 100 of the day's 161,667 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 21.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 23 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.
Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.
Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.
Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.
The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.
From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?
Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.
Create a free accountSign in · a username, an email and a password.